HAIRCUT & COLOR GUIDE
How to Read a Men's Perm Reference Photo
Break down curl size, side volume, and starting length before you sit in the salon chair.
Every image you see is a bookable style. Click any photo to view details and book an appointment with a stylist.
Bringing a reference photo to your appointment is the most reliable way to communicate your goals. However, pointing to a picture and asking for "a perm" leaves too much open to interpretation. To get a predictable result, you need to break down the image's specific components. Compare the curl size (loose waves versus tight coils), the direction of the fringe, the volume on the sides, and the overall starting length. Because perming naturally shrinks the length of your hair, identifying these details early helps determine if you need to grow your hair out further before booking your service.
Wavy Perms and Loose Flow
Focusing on movement and texture
A wavy perm focuses on loose movement rather than tight coils. When evaluating references, look closely at how the waves fall around the face—are they directed forward, parted in the middle, or swept back? The target style direction will change how your stylist layers the top section.
💬What to Ask Your Stylist
- Will my current hair length support this wave size after the shrinkage from the perm?
Best For:
- • Adding volume and movement to straight hair without a dramatic curl transition
NYC Price Range:
Ask the salon for a current quote
Maintenance:
Ask your stylist for a personalized maintenance plan involving a light curl cream or mousse applied to damp hair.
Curly Perms and Tight Definition
Voluminous rings and distinct coils
If your reference photo shows distinct, voluminous rings, you are looking at a curly perm. Tighter curls require smaller perm rods during the service. Because a tighter curl pattern causes the hair to shrink significantly more than a loose wave, your starting length must be noticeably longer than the target silhouette.
💬What to Ask Your Stylist
- What size rods are needed to achieve this specific curl tightness on my current hair texture?
Best For:
- • Maximum top volume and highly defined texture
NYC Price Range:
Ask the salon for a current quote
Maintenance:
Requires hydrating curl products to maintain definition and prevent the tighter coils from becoming frizzy; ask your stylist for specific recommendations.
Down Perms and Side Volume Control
Flattening the sides for a sharper silhouette
Look closely at the sides and back in your reference photo. Are they clipper-faded down to the skin, or is there visible hair that sits perfectly flat against the head? A down perm is a targeted chemical treatment used to flatten straight, stubborn, or puffy hair at the roots, often paired with a traditional wave or curl perm on top.
💬What to Ask Your Stylist
- Do I need a down perm to get my sides to lay this flat, or can we achieve this with a precise clipper fade?
Best For:
- • Controlling side volume on coarse, straight hair that tends to stick straight out
NYC Price Range:
Ask the salon for a current quote
Maintenance:
The flattening effect grows out with your natural hair root; ask your stylist how often you will need root touch-ups to keep the sides crisp.
Permed Mullets and Starting Length
Measuring the required back length
A permed mullet relies on a distinct contrast in length between the shorter sides and the longer back. When evaluating these photos, pay attention to exactly where the curls sit on the neck. Because chemical processing alters the apparent length of the hair, the back section needs to be grown out well past the target visual length before your appointment.
💬What to Ask Your Stylist
- How much more length do I need to grow in the back to hit this specific silhouette after the hair is permed?
Best For:
- • Creating a trendy, edgy profile with contrasting lengths
NYC Price Range:
Ask the salon for a current quote
Maintenance:
Requires regular trims on the sides and top to maintain the mullet shape while allowing the back to preserve its permed texture.
Consultation tips
Bring multiple photos of the same style.
Showing the front, side, and back of similar cuts helps the stylist understand the complete 360-degree silhouette you want.
Identify what you don't like.
Pointing out a reference photo where the curls are too tight or the sides are too short is just as helpful for setting boundaries.
Before you book
Compare relevant portfolio photos
Choose references with a similar starting texture to your own hair, and clearly explain the structural changes you expect.
Check your current length
Remember that perming shrinks the apparent length of the hair. If your target style looks three inches long, you likely need four to five inches of starting length.
Compare portfolio photos and discuss your goals with a stylist.